Portable Carpet Steam Cleaning Machines - rotovac 360 vs. self modified set up

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rotovac 360 vs. self modified set up

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Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Portable Carpet Steam Cleaning Machines
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URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7351
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Topic: rotovac 360 vs. self modified set up

Posted By: vincentli1
Subject: rotovac 360 vs. self modified set up
Date Posted: 02/March/2012 at 9:49pm

Hi everyone

I'm just trying to get into the business since there are lots of office building in San Francisco. I know there are already lots of cleaning service out here but I may do a better job. Who knows right!!

I don't have much money to start with but I still want to take on some bigger jobs. The Rotovac 360 starter set looks very attractive. http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/tg_startup_kits.s - http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/tg_startup_kits.shtml

I don't have $5000 in my pocket.

My questions are: Are there any other rotary cleaning equipments that has connections to a vaccum? I do know that its better that the rotary cleaning equipment comes with the spray nozzle at the bottom like rotovac but its expensive. Can I just buy a separate sprayer under $100 to spray the carpet or floor first. Then, I'll use a lower price rotary cleaning equipment such as this one, http://www.cleanfreak.com/Qstore/p002200.htm - http://www.cleanfreak.com/Qstore/p002200.htm for $486. Then, I can still have some money to buy a higher power wet vacuum for about $350.

Maybe I still don't understand what is the difference between a water extractor and a wet vacuum. Please explain?? A water extractor usually more than $1000. A above average wet vacuum is about $400. I don't understand what is the difference. By looking at my starter set up, it only cost less than $1000. I can also add a auto detailing tool to it for about another $100. I can do carpet, hard floor and auto detailing. Rather than spending $2100 on the rotovac and the water extractor $1500. That's already $3500. I'm just a starter so please guide me. I want to start a cleaning business. Thank you!

Replies:

Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 02/March/2012 at 10:08pm

A rotary floor machine is nothing like a rotovac 360 or rx-20 hooked up to an extractor. If you are tight on money, start with the rotary floor machine and do what is called bonnet cleaning. See if someone locally is willing to take you on to teach you how to use it.

Chances are if you do not even have $5000 your first point to focus on is marketing and sales of a value added service. I have found over the years that people who put the equipment first are out of business before they start.

Can someone tell me why people who have no experience in this business as an employee thinks anyone can do this business? They remind me of 49ers. They don't know sh*t, anyone will sell them tools but no one really cares if they make it or not. Seriously, if you don't know the difference between a wetdry vac and an extractor, take up web design or something like that which anyone can do, although not as good as others and you might survive until you find a job.

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Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?

Posted By: grimel
Date Posted: 03/March/2012 at 1:09pm

The difference between a wet/dry vac and an extractor?

Oh, I'd say one is good for spills and sucking up slop from VCT strip/refinish and T&G cleaning with a rotary; the other can suck water out of carpet at 25-100ft depending on model.

If you don't think working at 25ft vs 10ft is a big deal, build your setup and be out of business in 4 months. Ebay and craigslist for cheap used tools. At least take a class with no experience you must take a class to have any idea what you are doing.

Posted By: vincentli1
Date Posted: 03/March/2012 at 8:25pm

class?? where can I take some classes? I'd like to know. In my local area well...not too local still 60 miles. There is a used RX-20. The poster says its still in great working condition for $700. Do you guys think it is a good deal? I mean a starter like me don't have much money to start with. Its better to buy used equipments with lower price. If the business don't work out for me, I can always resell the equipments for like 100 to 200 less so I won't lose too much. After watching lots of videos, I do believe that nothing can really replace Rotovac and Rx-20. Well unless I can really build a customized rotary vacuum haha...

Thanks for the helpful comments. Please continue to give me feed backs.

Posted By: grimel
Date Posted: 03/March/2012 at 8:42pm

Don't get wrapped around the axle on equipment. You buy a good extractor and that RX-20 ($700 if it works i s a steal). I'll take my portable and a wand. Our carpet will look the same when we are done. Difference between actual experience and theoretical knowledge.

CleanTrust offers classes around the country.

Beyond the basics (and that steal of a RX-20) in equipment, your money is better spent on advertising and classes. Once you have a semi-stable work load consider upgrading equipment.

Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 04/March/2012 at 2:49pm

Get a job in the carpet cleaning industry and learn from an expert by doing. Novices amuse me. They all think they can do this business. Just like every gold panner struck in rich in California during the rush of 49. If the equipment could market and sell the job, who would need you?

So, how are you going to get your clients? Better mousetrap and all that? No one is beating a path to your front door now and they won't be at anytime in the near future. How are you going to get these people in front of you and what are you going to say and do once they get there? Know anything about fibers? You're saying you are going to clean them, what is the difference between them including strengths and weaknesses? Is that berber carpet nylon, olefin or a blend? What generation is the nylon? What are the rules about cleaning wool or polyester?

Take your money and buy a load of viagra. Chances are better that you will be able to use them sometime in the future and you are trained to do the right thing with them. At least you will have one satisfied customer.

Carpet cleaner you are not, a CEO in training for a carpet care service you are not. I would rather have a proven CEO of a bank running my company. If there is not a large group of investors outside your door right now looking for you to be CEO of their company why would you hire you?

Posted By: NJPSR
Date Posted: 05/March/2012 at 9:33am

Wow guys your a little hard on the guy. Give him a chance. Vincient, try to locate a janitoral store and see if they offer any classes. First of all, what type of business do you wish to start? Carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, janitorial etc.. Then invest in some classes or find a company who may let you do a ride along. Learn before you jump into it. Hey even go to the library and read up on what your planning on doing. Also that rx is well worth the money if thats what you want!!! JMO.

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N.J.P. Property Maintenance, "We take care of all your cleaning needs"

Posted By: grimel
Date Posted: 05/March/2012 at 6:42pm

Call it tough love. Don't sugar coat it and let him have some idea what he is getting himself into. Enough people have spent good money to enter this field only to sell off the equipment at a loss (sometimes a huge loss) because everyone they discuss this with it nice and helpful and all full of encouragement.

Starting up with a shopvac and some modified tools is a ticket to failure. Walk into someone's home looking clueless with "junk" and see how many jobs he gets to complete. Besides, he can buy a functional used extractor with a wand for about the same as a top end shop vac and the rest of the improvised tools he talked about using.

Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 08/March/2012 at 2:46pm

Carpet Cleaning Franchises:

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning $29,900
COIT $25,500
Chem-Dry $20,000
ServiceMaster $20-35,000

$20,000 is the lowest you will pay to learn the trade and receive the type of equipment you learned to use.

Got that kind of money or as a newbie looking at forums like these and expecting a free educations from us educated businessmen and women expecting too much as you would be defined in life as just another out-of-work johnny-come-lately with no real money and even less sense who might make it as an India based call center agent for dell computers? There should be a minimum experience requirement here like there are minimum height and weight requirements on all the good rides at Disneyland.

Anyone who asks a question regarding how to do this business I will personally refer back to this rant. There are desperate housewives, now we have desperate failures as a new show airing daily on good carpet cleaner boards everywhere.